By Amanda J. Richard
The sparkling chandeliers and gold-leaf-encrusted stanchions of the Harry S. Truman Building’s storied Benjamin Franklin Room provided an exquisite backdrop for this year’s Department of State Awards Ceremony, Nov. 13. Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeanne M. Juliao welcomed attendees and introduced the Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources Carol Z. Perez who provided opening remarks and congratulated the 51 award recipients.
“These employees embody the Department’s values and time-honored traditions, both at home and abroad,” said Perez. “We are proud to recognize their extraordinary efforts to advance our nation’s foreign policy priorities, sometimes in the face of peril and often under difficult circumstances.”
Perez then introduced Secretary of State Michael Pompeo who recognized Department employees for their outstanding work and contributions and unveiled the One Team Award, which recognizes those who exemplify the “One Team, One Mission” ethos. The inaugural recipient of the One Team award, Assistant Director of the El Paso Passport Agency Santiago M. Burciaga, was honored for displaying outstanding leadership in the wake of the domestic terror attack in El Paso, Texas, Aug. 3.
“Santiago’s leadership is an embodiment of our Professional Ethos, which calls on us all to show unfailing professionalism in the face of adversity, uncompromising personal and professional integrity, and unstinting respect for our colleagues,” said Pompeo. “His name will be the first, but not the last, to be etched on our new One Team Award glass sculpture.”
Following Pompeo’s remarks, Under Secretary of State for Management Brian Bulatao presented the awards to the winners. The 2019 award recipients embody excellence, showcasing a passionate and highly skilled group of individuals who make the Department proud.
Amanda J. Richard is the multimedia editor of State Magazine.
2019 Award Winners (Click name to view)
Erik M. Anderson
Mark J. Bohac
Ellen Bremenstul
James W. Brown
Laura E. Brown
Alexander T. Bryan
Serhiy Buchel
Santiago M. Burciaga
Songmeng Chea
Jeanie Clayton
Maegan Conklin
Timmy T. Davis
Carrie A. Denver
Akram Elfeki
Nina M. Fite
Agata Fitzpatrick
Jeffrey Giauque
2019 Award Winners Citations
Erik M. Anderson
Frank E. Loy Award for Environmental Diplomacy
For integrating and advancing U.S. environmental interests in the Indo-Pacific region; for collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship to promote U.S. pollution-control expertise and combat air and marine plastic pollution in Thailand; and for astute analysis and reporting on the Mekong River region.
Mark J. Bohac
Robert C. Bannerman Diplomatic Security Employee of the Year Award
For bureau-leading innovation, ingenuity, resource management, and process implementation in support of Diplomatic Security’s overseas protective mission.
Ellen R. Bremenstul
Equal Employment Opportunity Outstanding Leadership Award
For tremendous contributions as a human resources officer at Embassy Beirut, promoting a workplace free of discrimination and harassment through policy development, and Mission engagement and training.
James W. Brown
Linguist of the Year Award
In recognition of exemplary efforts to gain and maintain proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and Cantonese, and the successful use of these challenging languages to advance strategic objectives of the Department of State.
Laura E. Brown
Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy
For successfully fostering public support and countering disinformation and malign attacks to realize the U.S. policy priority of seeing North Macedonia join NATO, and for cultivating expanded public engagement through innovative programs to solidify U.S. influence in North Macedonia and the Western community nations.